Download PDF of the Student Handbook 2008-2009

Dear Parents and Families,

Welcome to another exciting year at Northwest Primary and Pierpoint Primary Learning Center! I know that 2008-2009 will prove to be an educationally challenging and valuable year for everyone. The faculty, staff, and administration have high expectations for our students and ourselves. With the help of our students’ families, we will help the children here do great things and learn to love school.

As Principal of our learning community on Pierpoint Avenue, I want to assure everyone that I am dedicated to the continued focus of creating the best learning experience for students as we possibly can. The simple philosophy “kids first!” sums up the approach that we have taken and will continue to take in guiding all of our decisions and programs. I believe, along with the dedicated faculty and staff, that a positive partnership between home and school is key to student success. We must work together to help our students on their educational path of becoming confident and competent learners and citizens.

The faculty and staff at Northwest and Pierpoint are second to none when it comes to dedication and professionalism. We are all very fortunate to be blessed with such a caring and focused group. Please take the time to get to know the adults that are teaching your children. You will be impressed. Every adult in this building is working to ensure that our expectations for behavior and work are consistent. As part of the “Responsive Classroom” approach to education, every member of our faculty is responsible for each child that crosses through our doors – and responds with a deep level of understanding and respect in their interactions.

We hope that you will take the time to become deeply involved in your child’s education. That involvement is the greatest way to model for your child that school is very important. Some basic pathways to involvement are:

• Follow the teacher’s lead with homework, projects, and reading.
• Support your child with a regular place and time for him/her to do homework each night.
• Volunteer at school.
• Attend school functions.
• Communicate with your teacher at least monthly.
• Become active in the Parent Teacher Collaborative (PTC).
• Speak with your child about school EVERY DAY.
• Be sure that your child is well rested, nourished, and clothed.
• Contact the school with any questions or concerns.
• Please take the time to read through this handbook. Feel free to contact me at school or make an appointment to sit down and talk.

Sincerely,

Kristin A. Hubert, Principal

Introduction

This handbook is meant to give you a quick overview of what our school is, how it operates, and some ideas on how we can all work together to improve your child’s primary educational experience. It also includes information regarding school and district policies, procedures, and practices. Policy and procedure manuals are available for review at the school and the district central office. Because we are constantly critiquing our efforts policies, procedures, and practices may be updated during the school year.

Please take the time to review this handbook carefully. Remember that we are all on the same team trying to educate your children to be the brightest and best students to pass through our doors.

Rutland City Public Schools
Primary Program
Northeast-Northwest-Pierpoint

It is recognized that the early years of a child’s education are the most critical of all. With this belief, the mission of Northeast Primary School, Northwest Primary School, and Pierpoint Primary Learning Center is to develop, support and enhance an environment in which all children become proficient readers, writers and mathematicians in a setting that ensures respect for oneself, each other and learning. To this end, the Primary Program:

• Adheres to the principles of the Responsive Classroom model, which provides for consistency in behavioral expectations school-wide and fosters students’ resiliency and responsibility for their actions
• Provides comprehensive reading instruction based on research and incorporating a range of skill development including Wilson phonics/phonemic awareness and multiple opportunities to write and to read a variety of quality literature
• Focuses on both basic skills and problem solving multidisciplinary themes provides comprehensive instruction in mathematics
• Provides social studies, science and enrichment opportunities based on district curriculum
• Provides high quality professional development to its administrators, teachers and staff in order that current research supports instructional practices
• Invites parents and community members to participate fully in the education of their children

What Is Northwest Primary School/Pierpoint Primary Learning Center?

The Northwest Primary School and the Pierpoint Primary Learning Center make up the “two building, one learning community” on Pierpoint Avenue. We represent two of the three primary buildings in Rutland Public Schools. We house Early Childhood Education, kindergarten, first, and second grade classrooms at Northwest. At Pierpoint, we provide a “non graded” setting for three equal groups of kindergarten, first, and second graders.

We have 14 classrooms at Northwest. Two Early Childhood rooms for children ages 3 to 5, four full day kindergarten programs (one of which will “loop” this year to first grade.), four first grades and four second grades. Across the road at Pierpoint there are three classrooms and one community learning center.

At Pierpoint the students are divided into “home base” classrooms. Students are grouped by their developmental ability, and they have some instruction as a large community.

Northwest and Pierpoint Primary Schools

(Please note that dismissal time for bus riders depends upon bus arrival at school.)

SCHOOL HOURS

Students may enter class at 8:50. Students arriving after 9:05 will be marked as “tardy.”

Please remember that teachers are involved in meetings or preparing for the day and may not be in their classrooms until the busses arrive. Students should NOT be dropped off before 8:30, when supervision begins. To leave your child unsupervised before 8:30 may put him/her in an unsafe situation.

Breakfast program: 8:30-9:05 (If busses arrive late, children will be given breakfast when they arrive.)

School Day

It is important that each child have the benefit of a full day’s learning in school. The school day ends at 3:20 and, unless there is an emergency, children are not dismissed earlier. If you must pick up your child before 3:20, please go to the office and sign your child out. He/she will be brought to the office to meet you. We must ask visitors to remain in the office so we know who is in the building, both for safety reasons and so that instruction is not interrupted with visitors congregating in the hallways outside classrooms. If you are expected at a particular classroom in the building, you will be given a visitor’s badge to wear so all will know you have signed in at the office.

LUNCH PERIODS

Grade Lunch /Recess

1 12:05-1:00

K 12:25-1:20

2 12:45-1:40

Note: Teachers will arrange morning snack schedules.

Hot Lunch and Breakfast Cost

The cost of Breakfast and Hot Lunch is:

Breakfast: Regular  -  $.75   Reduced Cost- $.25  Adult – $1.50

Lunch: Regular  -  $1.40 Reduced Cost- $.40 Adult – $2.50

Milk: $.40

To put money in your child’s account you may send in cash, but we advise making a check payable to “Sodexho.”

RECESS

Please dress your child according to weather conditions. Children will be expected to be outdoors each day for short periods of time. Teachers often have assigned duties during recess, and there are no provisions for supervising children who wish to remain indoors.

For safety reasons certain types of equipment are not allowed on the playground. These include: skateboards, skates, bats, hard balls, CD players and radios. Children should not bring these items into school.

If a child has a chronic health problem, he/she may remain indoors during recess only if the school recieves an original doctor’s written or signed order with reasons and expected duration requested.

Visitor’s Parking

Our parking lot has minimal off street parking for those visitors who stop in during school hours. Please note that during drop off and pick up times (8:30-9:00 and 3:15-3:35) the traffic lanes in the parking lot will need to be free and clear of parked automobiles. The drop off and pick up procedure has been outlined later in this handbook.

Visitors must use the one “main entrance” between the gym and the office. ALL VISITORS MUST SIGN IN AT THE OFFICE DURING SCHOOL HOURS. We appreciate your patience and focus on a safe and secure school.

Attendance

Compulsory attendance is required in Vermont by law between the ages of six and sixteen.

Student attendance is extremely important. Not only does your child need to be here to take advantage of the learning opportunities, but they also need to learn at this early age that attending is critical. Students that come to school every day will do better in school. We expect your child to be in school every day. Normal childhood illnesses may keep your child out of school a few days a year (3 to 5). More than this indicates a problem. If your child is out more than this, he/she should be under a doctor’s care. Please communicate to the school any health issues that your child may have so that we can support them.

The building Principal determines whether an absence is excused or unexcused. An unexcused absence is considered truany and will thus be reported to our Attendance Officer. The Rutland City Board of School Commissioners and the Superintendent require and expect that students attend those days that school is in session.

Following is the procedure to be followed when a child is absent from school:

1. If your child is absent, please call 773-1945 extension 2. If a child has not arrived at school, and we have not received a phone call, we will call you. If there is no answer, your child will be marked unexcused.
2. Parents must send a signed and dated note, along with the child’s name and reason for the absence when the child returns to school. This is a Vermont State regulation. If a student is home sick for more than 3 days, he/she must have a doctor’s note.

Vacations

Removing students from school for family vacations will not be considered excused absences without prior approval from the principal. Prior approval will be granted with a satisfactory educational plan. Upon return to school if the plan has been completed the absences will remain “excused.” If the plan is not completed the absences will be changed to “unexcused.”

Students who accumulate 5 unexcused days become part of the county truancy project. A student who accumulates 7 unexcused days is considered truant and parents must attend a team meeting. A child who accumulates 10 unexcused days will result in the school filing an afidavit with the state.

Please schedule vacations during school vacation time. You must understand that today’s classrooms are very interactive and fast paced. This means that most instruction is done with the student interacting with the teacher, other students, and/or manipulative materials at a rapid pace and on a set sequence. It is impossible to duplicate some of these activities for your trip. For this reason we need you to know that if your children are out of school for a week, they will miss instruction that may not be replaced. Students that are being removed from school for long periods of time will be marked absent and truant if they do not receive the principal’s endorsement. Forms for approval of extended absence are available in the main office.

Doctor’s Appointments

Please schedule doctor and dentist appointments outside of school hours. It is difficult but they will do it. It is very disruptive to your child’s educational program when they are late, leave early, or miss the middle of a day.

CURRICULUM

Our K-12 curriculum is based on the Vermont Framework of Standards, and Learning Opportunities and Grade Level Equivilants. Copies of the Educational Goals and K-12 Standards and the two volumes of the Rutland City K-12 Curriculum can be found in our school library.

Reading is taught through an approach that integrates listening, speaking, reading and writing, called the Four Blocks Framework. These areas interrelate and support the development of literacy. The teaching of phonics and decoding skills, using the Fundations/Wilson Reading System, in conjunction with Four Blocks, is stressed and occurs in the meaningful context of good literature and poetry. A primary goal of our school is to ensure that every child becomes a competent and confident reader and writer during his/her K-2 experience. If a child has difficulty learning to read, support services are provided to help children with specific skills. Parents are notified when a child may be in need of support services.

Our Mathematics program follows the standards developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Vermont Grade Level Equivilants(GLEs). Our teachers use the Everyday Math Program to address these standards so students learn math “basics” along with how to use math in real life through problem solving.

Science and Social Studies, along with Language Arts, and Mathematics are integrated and taught through developed Thematic Units.

“SPECIALS”

Along with the core curriculum, students receive weekly instruction in Art, Library skills, Music and Physical Education.

The primary Art Program is designed to expand upon the students’ creative and imaginative growth. In using the elements and principles of design, such as line, color, shape, value, texture, students create a variety of art projects. Students will also have the opportunity to explore a variety of art media, including tempera paints, water colors and oil pastels and be exposed to works of art by famous artists.

The Library Program focuses on developing an interest in and excitement about reading and books, provides instruction in using the library (learning center), and in selecting books for reading in the classroom and at home.

The library is accessible to all children throughout the week for book exchange, and independent learning. The use of available computers, equipment, software and materials to further develop personal interests and to compliment and expand on classroom lessons is also available throughout the day.

Music is a lifelong process that affects every corner of our world. Students are offered the opportunity to experience music in a variety of ways. Class activities include rhythmic development, awareness of the singing voice, introduction to instruments, the use of rhythm instrument accompaniment, development of listening skills, creative movement and appreciation for the works of various composers. Each child is encouraged to sing to the best of his/her ability and to actively participate in all music activities. Children demonstrate their learning through either a holiday or spring concert each year.

The Physical Education Program is designed to encourage exploration of movement and motor skills with increased awareness of self-esteem and personal fitness. Basic rules and skills of sports are introduced, as well as new games which involve sharing, group play, cooperation, and having fun safely.

Student Services

In addition to the classroom teachers, we offer several support services to help children be successful. One of the most used services is that of our school nurse, Heather Perkins, R.N. She is on duty every day from 8:30 – 3:00. Ms. Perkins takes care of student health records, screens all children for vision and hearing, and is available for emergency sickness and injuries. We also use Debi Dayton to investigate student absences.

Stephanie Isenor, Ryanne Spaulding, Diane Trapeni, Marcy Gillam, Valerie Pajak and Coral Gates (Pierpoint) are our Special Education teachers. They are each assigned to a number of classrooms. They assist teachers with any students in the classroom that may benefit from extra or different styles of teaching. Kathy Cater and Stephanie Waite are our Speech/ Language Pathologists. They work with young children who need speech therapy. Bonnie Pollino and Darlene Hetzel work with our youngest population (EEE).

Our Home School Coordinators, Madison Akin and Nancy Spalding-Ness, provide in-school counseling and support for students in need. They also develop classroom interventions to help students develop the skills they need to be self-reliant and resilient. Mrs. Akin and Mrs. Spalding-Ness play a critical role in the link between home and school for many families, and give guidance in securing support from outside agencies in Rutland County.

HOMEWORK

At Northwest and Pierpoint we believe that homework is an integral part of each student’s educational program. Howework is an extension of classroom work and reinforces the concept that educaiton is a life-long process. Homework also affords parents a way to acquaint themselves with the school program and their own child’s educational growth.

- Each day your student will bring home a homework folder. This folder will contain any communication from school to home about upcoming events or activities.

- We recommend that you set aside 10 minutes per day to sit down with your child and review the contents of the folder and their school day.

- The teacher may send home a recommendation for an activity for homework. You may help your child with homework activities.

- We ask that you then sign the appropriate place in the folder and return it to school with any communication you may wish us to know about.

KINDERGARTEN: Activities will be provided to students and parents for reinforcement of basic skills taught in class and to expand on their school learning and educational development. Please read to your child daily.

GRADES 1 – 2: Homework becomes an expected part of the student’s educational program. Emphasis will be on math, social studies and science. The amount of homework suggested is 15-30 minutes per night. Please continue to read with your child daily for at least 15 minutes. Bedtime is often a good time for reading.

Incomplete homework assignments have a negative impact on a student’s ability to benefit fully from his/her educational program. Please note that a failure to complete homework will result in consequences for the student.

PARENT CONFERENCES

The most effective means of communicating your child’s progress is face to face. Parent – teacher conferences are scheduled for October and April. No other report card or progress report will be sent home at these times. You must attend conferences to get information on student progress, and give us input that will help us with your child. We encourage parents to request additional meetings with their child’s teacher if they have a concern or wish to have updated information on their child’s progress.

Volunteers

We continue to have the services of a Volunteer Coordinator. Pat Shappy (786-1755) will assist us by finding needed volunteers for activities in the school or you can speak directly with your child’s teacher to offer help or expertise in class. Among those activities are working in your child’s classroom, participating in the Rutland Reads program, and working with students after school in one of many activities or groups that we will be organizing to help the children. Please consider at the very least, one day, even one hour of volunteerism at our school. If each student had a parent that gave one day to volunteer in the school the benefit would be 2250 hours of volunteer time.

Examples of Daily Classroom Help:

• Homework folders
• Reading with children
• “Choice time” help
• Lunchroom help

Examples of Weekly Help:

• Books and Beyond
• Guest readers
• Supporting struggling students
• Lunchtime book club or reading

Examples of Periodic Event Help:

• Organizing class festivities
• Enrichment/sharing a talent
• Helping with field trips
• School/community charity events

STUDENT CONDUCT

During the first week of school, your children will participate with their class in developing the classroom and school rules. These must be simple, understandable rules that insure your child’s safety and a healthy learning environment while encouraging students to make good choices.When students make poor conduct choices, we will …

• Respond with interventions and related consequences in order to maintain a safe learning environment. We will begin with verbal and non-verbal reminders,
• Provide a classroom time-out place for those who do not heed the reminders.
• If time out is not effective, the student will be brought to a “buddy teacher’s” classroom. If the buddy time-out is not helpful, the student will be referred to the planning room.
• The Planning Room is staffed by Andrea Pollack. Ms. Pollack is a paraeducator who has received special training in helping children understand why their behavior is not appropriate and then make a plan to teach them how to behave differently the next time.
• Student plans are signed by the teacher, the principal, and the student. A copy is then sent home to the parent and the parent is contacted by phone or email in most cases. If a student must visit the planning room more than four times, the parents must attend a meeting to discuss other solutions. If a student continues to have behavior issues after a parent meeting, the school may place the student on a behavior plan that involves community service and earning priviledges. We will make every effort to contact parents by phone when their child is sent to the planning room.
• The planning room approach is meant to be a positive step toward improving behavior.

Unsafe Behavior:

Unsafe or threatening behavior will not be tolerated at school. School faculty, staff, and administration will take unsafe or threatening behavior most seriously. Consequences for serious behavior of this nature will be directly related to the severity of the student’s conduct and may include community service, loss of privileges, a parent meeting, and in extreme cases suspension or explusion from school.

Bullying Prevention

1.  Introduction
a.  As a result of VT Act 117 of 2004 an act relating to bullying prevention policies, the following is intended as an insert to the Vermont Department of Education Model Discipline Plan, issued June 2003 for use in addressing bullying in schools. Bullying is a form of dangerous and disrespectful behavior that will not be permitted or tolerated.
b. Bullying may involve a range of misconduct that, based on severity, will warrant a measured response of corrective action and/or discipline. Behaviors that do not rise to the level of bullying, as defined below, still may be subject to intervention and or discipline under another section of the discipline plan or discipline policy.

2.  Definition
a.  Bullying means any overt act or combination of such acts directed against a student by another student or group of students which:
i.  Occurs during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school sponsored activity;
ii.  Is intended to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate the student; and
iii.  Is repeated over time.

3.  Notice of Prohibition Against Bullying and Interventions
a.  The Rutland City Public School district recognizes that students should have a safe orderly, civil and positive learning environment and that bullying has no place and will not be tolerated in its schools. The Rutland School district shall:
i.  Include prohibition against bullying in the student or school handbook and in other ways make student aware of the prohibition against bullying, the penalties for engaging in bullying and the procedures for reporting bullying.
ii.  Develop strategies for school staff to prevent and intervene in bullying.

4.  Reporting, Investigating, and Notifying Parents
a.  To address bullying the Rutland City School District:
i.  Encourages students to report personally or anonymously to teachers and administrators acts of bullying. The following structures are in place for such reporting at Northwest and PPLC:
1.  All acts of bullying that are reported will be brought to the attention of the Principal or his designee, the planning room coordinator, and/or the Home School Coordinator.
2.  Reported cases of bullying will be investigated and reported to parents of alleged “student targets” of bullying and “offenders.” Cases will also be reported to the School Resource Officer.
3.  Findings of investigation and actions taken will be reported to parents within the boundaries of FERPA and confidentiality.
4.  Actions may include disciplinary action, proactive changes in school practices, meeting with parents, and referrals to community services.

TRANSPORTATION ~ GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Bus Rules

The Rutland City School Commissioners have stated that transportation to and from school is a privilege granted to pupils. This privilege is conditioned on students complying with the established rules. When the rules are ignored and a student endangers himself and/or fellow passengers, bus riding privileges shall be suspended according to the following procedure:

The following bus rules are posted in the school busses:

1. Display the same conduct expected in the classroom.
2. Be courteous, do not use any profane language.
3. Do not eat, drink or chew gum on bus.
4. Keep bus clean.
5. Cooperate with driver’s instructions.
6. Do not be destructive.
7. Stay in seat.
8. Keep head, hands and feet inside bus.
9. The bus driver is authorized to assign seats.
10. No physical aggression/abuse of others will be allowed.
11. No spitting or throwing of objects is tolerated.

Consequences of Misbehavior on the Bus

First Offense – Bus driver reminds child of required correct behavior and notifies principal.

Second Offense – Driver writes a bus referral slip and brings it to the principal. Parents receive a written notice and phone call. The child meets with the principal.

Third Offense – Driver writes a bus referral slip and the child meets with the principal who will notify parent that child is suspended from bus for a period of five (5) days. Principal, parents and child will meet to discuss restoration of bus privilege.

Fourth Offense – Bus Incident Report is sent to the principal who will notify parent that child has been suspended from bus for remainder of school year.

Immediate Suspension

Any student misbehaving in a manner that creates a severe safety hazard to him/herself, the driver, or other students, will immediately be suspended. The principal will inform the parent and set up a meeting of parent, child and principal to discuss behavior and the possibility of resumption of bus riding privilege.

Bus Information

1. Whenever there is a change in the way your child will go home from school we must have a written note informing us of this change. If we do not receive this written note your child will be placed on his/her regular bus.
2. We cannot permit children who are walkers or car riders to occasionally ride school buses.
3. We cannot permit children to ride on other than assigned bus.

Walkers and Car Riders

Student Drop Off ~ Parents wishing to drive their children to NW school in the mornng will drop their children off by entering the driveway at the south end of the Northwest campus. Students must be dropped off directly to the sidewalk. After dropping off children, parents need to move out of the complex to allow for safe delivery of other children. If a parent wishes to stay at the school for any reason he/she will need to park on Pierpoint Avenue north of fthe school. Our parking lot is suffcient for our staff, but lacks space for visitors.

All Northwest School car riders will be dismissed to automobiles in the traffic loop on the south side of the building. Students will be brought out via the new sidewalk and dismissed to their parents or guardians. South Walkers will be dismissed from the same location. If there are any North Walkers that actually walk, they will be escorted to the corner of Pierpoint and Crescent. Note: we will not be dismissing any car riders on Pierpoint Avenue.

Pierpoint Car riders will be dismissed in the standard manner. Automobiles must pull into the parking lot and collect their valuable riders at the school entrance.

Whenever there is a change in the way your child will go home, a change in the person who will pick your child up, or a change in place child will be going after school, it is necessary that you send a note to the child’s teacher providing this information.

Inclement Weather and Emergency Situations

Inclement Weather

Announcement about the closing of schools will be made via the “Alert Now” System, as well as over the following radio stations: WJJR, WSYB and WZRT. The decision to close schools will be made by 6:00 a.m. It is possible that certain weather conditions will suggest that we close ONLY the elementary schools.

Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency situation the schools will follow the “Emergency Response Plan.” A copy of the plan can be made available to interested parents. In the event of an emergency with students remaining at school, parents will report to the gym at NW or the kitchen at PPLC to sign out children. Children will be brought to the gym by a school staff member.

In the event of an evacuation parents will be notified to pick up their children at Giorgetti Park or the Rutland Intermediate School auditorium.

Parent Teacher Collaborative

Pierpoint PTC : The Pierpoint PTC is a very active and supportive group of parents and teachers that plans and acts to support the programs of the school through contributions of time and resources, and fund raising.

Northwest PTC Mission Statement: The Northwest PTC strives to enrich the learning and programs of teachers and students, as well as the Northwest community as a whole.

These are two VERY important groups. Involvement helps parents and teachers become more involved as partners in the educational process of our children. Meetings will be held on a monthly basis.

Programs that the PTC sponsor and help run include, but are not limited to:

Books & Beyond – This is a reading incentive program that rewards children that fulfill a reading requirement by awarding them prizes. Volunteers are required to keep records for students in each classroom. This requires about one half day per month. PTC usually budgets about $600 for this project.

Enrichment – This group of parents and teachers review potential programs for presentation to our students. Programs may be dance, musical, theatrical etc.

Beautification – This group of parents and teachers plan and carry out the improvement of our physical plant. Recent projects include the construction of the climbing wall in the gym, bulletin boards for each room, and work on the district building project.

Holiday Crafts – This group of parents organize a half day activity for children to make a craft item for their parents for the holidays.

RIF – Reading Is Fundamental This is a national program funded by the Federal Gov’t. It provides 3 free books for each of our students during the school year. It costs the PTC about $500 that is matched by the gov’t.

Parent Outreach – The PTC is focused on supporting parents so that they feel that they are an active part of each child’s educational process. Therefore the PTC supports the Parent Outreach and Orientation events financially and in terms of effort.

VISITING OUR SCHOOL

Parents and other authorized guests are always welcome in our school. However, to help insure the safety of the children and to provide for an uninterrupted learning environment, the following procedures are required:

1. Whenever you enter the school please use the main entrance.
2. Check in at office where you will sign in and be given a visitor’s badge.
3. If you are bringing something to your child you may leave it at the office and we will be certain it is delivered to the classroom.
4. If you are removing a child from school before dismissal you will need to sign the child out at the school office.
5. No teacher shall allow any person to enter the classroom, or leave the school grounds with a child without a duly authorized dismissal slip.
6. If you wish to observe your child’s classroom, or a particular part of his/her program we will be pleased to make arrangements. Communicate your interest to the principal or classroom teacher so a date and time can be set.
7. Teachers are available to speak with you (on some mornings) before school, during specials, and after school. The remaining times they are involved in direct instruction and should not be interrupted. Please consider this if you need to speak directly to a teacher.

OPEN INVITATION TO PARENTS

• Come and have lunch with your child, from time to time.
• Bring your family to school events, to the public library.
• Enroll your children in extracurricular activities.
• Help your children to learn while you shop, cook,
• watch television, etc.
• Meet regularly with teachers and staff of your school.

Northwest and Pierpoint Primary Schools are all of us. Together we can start our children on the road to lifelong learning!

PARENTAL RIGHTS:

You have a right to:

1. Inspect and review records
2. Challenge contents of records
3. Obtain copy of records

School Policies

The following is a partial collection of policies regarding you and your child that you should review carefully. Please refer to the complete policy manual of the Rutland City Public Schools for all relevant policies. Policy manuals are available at Northwest Primary School and the Rutland City Public Schools Central Office located at 6 Church St.

POLICY: It is the policy of the City of Rutland Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs, or employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments.

1998   7692

Students

Subject: Head lice

The psychological, social, and economic impact of head lice infestations can create a problem in the community. Recognizing a sizable number of cases exist from time to time, the Rutland Public Schools will take the necessary measures to reduce the loss of instructional time for those students involved.

Rutland Public School District operates with a “No Nit” policy.

Headlice Procedure:

Regular head checks of all students are conducted by the school nurse and the staff at school. In the event that a child is found to have “live” lice they will be dismissed to home for treatment. In the event that a student has “nits” or lice eggs, parents will be contacted and the student will be sent home in the usual manner. In both cases, information is sent home and an adult must accompany the child to the nurse’s office on the following morning for a head check with the school nurse. Children must be “nit free” to return to school. The school and the school’s health services team offer guidance in treating head lice, as well as contact information for the Rutland VNA to help homes that have chronic lice problems.

1998     7613/6151
Students/Personnel

SUBJECT: HIV/AIDS POLICY

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not transmitted through casual contact and, therefore, is not reason in itself to treat individuals having or perceived as having HIV differently from other members of the school community. Accordingly, with respect to HIV disease, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the Rutland City School
District recognizes:

• the rights of students and employees with HIV
• the importance of maintaining confidentiality regarding the medical condition of any individual,
• the importance of an educational environment free of significant risks to health, and
• the necessity of HIV education and training for the school community and the community-at-large.